Law Enforcement’s Response to Those that Suffer from Mental Health Symptoms- A Crisis Negotiation Approach

Attendees will be provided with specialized behavioral health based training regarding the types of mental health conditions public safety personnel may be faced with during a Crisis Negotiation involving a Mentally Ill Subject and/or a Barricaded Criminal in Crisis or a Hostage Taker holding a Hostage(s). Strategies for relating and working with those that suffer from mental health conditions can be quite challenging and have the potential to pose danger to the public and public safety personnel at times if not dealt with appropriately. Such challenges include individual(s) suffering from suicidality and attempts to manage individuals who suffer from a major focus of clinical and behavioral attention (e.g.’s include: Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder, & Suicidality Awareness, Intervention, and Prevention).

An overview of Personality Disorders, traits, and characteristics that law enforcement personnel commonly encounter will also be covered inclusive of those that suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
An overview will be provided that includes the following: Reviewing the Types of Negotiating Incidents, Priorities within Negotiations, Methods of Communication Used, and Constructs of a Negotiating Incident.
The use of Active Listening Strategies & 14 Communication Techniques will be discussed along with the following specific techniques, applications, and phenomenon respectively: Rule of Reciprocity, Perceptual Contrast Principle, Foot in the Door Technique, Door in the Face Technique, Pluralistic Ignorance, Uncertainty Principle, Werther Effect, Scarcity Principle, Stockholm Syndrome and London Syndrome.
The proposed training tools are not to replace the specific department’s/agency safety techniques and tactical training but to be a supplemental aid in dealing with this specialized population. It is these instruments that can be used in managing and confronting this specialized population at the public safety personnel’s discretion.
Introduction to Major Psychiatric Disorders and Personality Conditions that Public Safety Personnel interact with on a regular basis (Axis I Conditions)